The first name Anand
A boy’s name from Sanskrit meaning “joy”, “delight”, “pleasure”.
Pronounced /ˈɑːnənd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Sanskrit origin
Anand means “joy”, “delight”, “pleasure” in Sanskrit.
Borrowed from Sanskrit आनन्द (ānanda, “joy, delight, pleasure”).
More names that mean joy.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 13 girls were named Anand, making it the 2,138th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 22 births (#1,449).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Anand with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Anand at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 15 boys born in the United States were named Anand, the 5,872nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1980, when 56 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Ananda
- Nanda
Famous people named Anand
4 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Anand Satyanand19th Governor General of New Zealand, born 1944
- Anand TuckerBritish film director and producer, born 1963
- Anand Raj AnandFilm composer, born 1961
- Arvid LindbladBritish racing driver, born 2007
More Sanskrit boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Anand mean?
- Anand means “joy”, “delight”, “pleasure” in Sanskrit.
- What is the origin of the name Anand?
- Borrowed from Sanskrit आनन्द (ānanda, “joy, delight, pleasure”).
- How popular is the name Anand?
- In 2025, 13 girls born in England and Wales were named Anand, ranking 2,138th. Its peak was 2024, with 22 births.
- Is Anand a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 98% of the 1,932 US babies named Anand since 1880 were boys.
- When was Anand most popular?
- 1980 in the United States, when 56 babies were named Anand, its highest rank at 1,228th.
- How do you pronounce Anand?
- Anand is /ˈɑːnənd/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Anand?
- Ananda and Nanda.
- Is Anand also a surname?
- Yes. Anand is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.